ACC: Chemicals Management Reform Can Be a Reality

ARLINGTON, VA (July 29, 2010) – In testimony before a key House subcommittee today, American Chemistry Council President and CEO Cal Dooley urged Congress to take the time to fix recently introduced legislation to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to ensure that it enhances public safety, preserves the ability of industry to innovate, and protects American jobs.

“My simple request is that we recognize that chemicals management is an extremely complex undertaking that affects the entire American economy, and there is much more work that needs to be done,” Dooley said in prepared remarks provided to the subcommittee.

Dooley was one of several witnesses to testify before the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection for a hearing on H.R. 5820 “The Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010,” which was introduced last week by Rep. Henry Waxman and Rep. Bobby Rush, chairman of the subcommittee.

While Dooley commended Congress for taking on this issue and for using a stakeholder process to gather ideas, he argued that the bill, as drafted, misses the mark.

“It creates additional burdens that do not contribute to and, in fact, detract from making advances in safety, while coming up short with respect to promoting innovation and protecting American jobs,” he said.

Dooley specifically called into question the safety standard in the bill, as well as its treatment of new chemical innovations, and its approach to the safety of imported products.

“We firmly believe that you can develop legislation that ensures safety while promoting innovation and protection jobs,” he concluded.